7-day Tasmania self-drive road trip itinerary

A Hobart-start self-drive loop through Freycinet, Launceston, and Cradle Mountain — daily drives, overnight bases, hire-car tips, and what to skip.

This is a seven-day Tasmania self-drive road trip built for a first visit from the mainland. The island is small enough that a week loops the eastern half without feeling rushed, and Hobart is the natural start and end — most flights land there, hire cars are easy to collect, and the roads out in every direction are sealed. The route runs Hobart to Freycinet, up to Launceston and the Tamar Valley, out to Cradle Mountain, then back to Hobart through the Midlands. For the wider planning context (how long to stay, Hobart vs Launceston, when to visit), start with the Tasmania travel guide.

Why self-drive works for this itinerary

A hire car is the practical way to hit Freycinet, the Tamar cellar doors, and Cradle Mountain on your own timetable. Coaches and day tours cover single attractions well, but chaining them into a week of island hopping gets expensive and inflexible. Self-drive lets you overnight where the walks start, leave early for Dove Lake, and skip a stop if the weather turns. If you are Hobart-only for a few days, you may not need a car — see Do you need a car in Hobart? — but for this loop, book the hire before summer weekends sell out.

• Collect the car in Hobart on day 1 so pickup logistics are not stacked on a long drive
• Choose an automatic if you are unused to winding highland roads
• Confirm one-way fees if you ever consider dropping in Launceston or Devonport (this loop returns to Hobart)
• Add windscreen and tyre cover if you are driving gravel lookout spurs

The route at a glance

• Day 1 — Hobart (arrive, city sights, collect hire car)
• Day 2 — Hobart to Freycinet Peninsula, via the east coast
• Day 3 — Freycinet to Launceston, via Bicheno and the Tamar approach
• Day 4 — Launceston and Tamar Valley wineries
• Day 5 — Launceston to Cradle Mountain
• Day 6 — Cradle Mountain walks, then Midlands highway back toward Hobart
• Day 7 — Hobart (flexible day: MONA or Bruny, return car, depart)

Day 1 — Settle into Hobart

Use your first day to adjust and see the city on foot rather than driving straight out — Salamanca Place, Battery Point, and the waterfront are walkable from most central stays. Pick up the hire car in the afternoon so you are not managing paperwork and a long east-coast transfer on the same morning. For neighbourhood picks, see where to stay in Hobart.

• Salamanca Place and Battery Point on foot
• Waterfront dinner near Constitution Dock
• Collect your hire car in the afternoon or evening

Day 2 — East coast to Freycinet

The drive from Hobart to the Freycinet Peninsula takes around two and a half hours. Break for coffee or a coastal lookout rather than pushing straight through. Freycinet National Park is the east-coast highlight — the Wineglass Bay lookout walk is short enough for most fitness levels and one of the most photographed views in Tasmania. Overnight in Coles Bay so you are close to the park for an early start.

• Wineglass Bay lookout walk — around 1.5–2 hours return, moderate incline
• Honeymoon Bay — an easier, flatter alternative if you are short on time
• Overnight in Coles Bay; fuel and snacks before you leave Hobart

Day 3 — On to Launceston

Continue north through Bicheno — worth a short stop for the blowhole and, at dusk, penguin tours — then cut inland toward Launceston (about two and a half to three hours from Freycinet). Launceston feels different to Hobart: river gorge scenery in the city and wine country on the doorstep. Park once you arrive and walk Cataract Gorge if daylight allows.

• Bicheno — short stop for the blowhole; penguin tour at dusk if timing works
• Cataract Gorge on arrival if light remains

Day 4 — Launceston and the Tamar Valley

Spend a full day around Launceston and the Tamar Valley, Tasmania’s premier cool-climate wine region. A loop of cellar doors with lunch at a valley restaurant fills a relaxed self-drive day. If you missed Cataract Gorge the evening before, walk it in the morning before tastings. For more depth, see Launceston and the Tamar Valley and the Launceston destination guide.

• Cataract Gorge — chairlift, pool, and short tracks in the city
• Tamar Valley cellar-door loop — nominate a driver or book a wine tour
• Optional extras: best day trips from Launceston

Day 5 — Into Cradle Country

From Launceston, head west toward Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park (roughly two and a half to three hours depending on stops). This is the most dramatic scenery of the trip — alpine terrain unlike the east-coast days. Base yourself near Cradle Mountain village overnight rather than day-tripping. Read the Cradle Mountain destination guide for shuttle rules and walk options before you drive in.

• Overnight near Cradle Mountain village for an early Dove Lake start
• Park shuttle is compulsory for much of the year — confirm access before arrival
• Fuel up before leaving Launceston; services near the park are limited

Day 6 — Cradle Mountain, then south

Spend the morning at Cradle Mountain. The Dove Lake circuit is the classic walk: flat, well formed, and photogenic when the mountain reflects on calm water. If fog closes in, switch to a shorter sheltered walk near the visitor centre rather than waiting all day. After lunch, drive the Midland Highway back toward Hobart — about three hours, faster and more direct than retracing the coast — arriving early evening.

• Dove Lake circuit — around two hours, flat and well maintained
• Backup: Enchanted Walk or Weindorfers if the lake is socked in
• Midland Highway to Hobart — allow ~3 hours plus stops

Day 7 — Flexible finish in Hobart

Keep the last day loose. MONA works well if you have not been yet; in good weather, Bruny Island covers the classic southern day trip this loop otherwise skips. Return the hire car with a buffer before an evening flight. Southern extras are listed in Hobart, MONA, and Tasmania day trips and best day trips from Hobart.

• MONA — ferry from the waterfront; budget three hours plus
• Bruny Island — only with a full free day; otherwise save for a return trip
• Return the hire car with airport buffer

Self-drive practical notes

• Book hire car and Cradle Mountain accommodation well ahead in summer — the loop is popular
• Fuel before Freycinet and again before Cradle; rural stations can close early
• Entire route is sealed, but expect narrow, winding sections near Cradle — add time beyond the GPS estimate
• Pack for four seasons regardless of month — the highlands run colder than the coast
• Download offline maps; mobile coverage drops between towns
• Wildlife is active at dusk — slow down on rural roads after late afternoon

Shorter or longer variants

Only have three or four days? Stay southern: Hobart plus Bruny or Port Arthur using 3 days in Hobart. Have ten days? Add a second Freycinet overnight or a west-coast night after Cradle. The Tasmania travel guide maps trip length to the right cluster of pages.

Start deeper planning from the Hobart, Launceston, and Cradle Mountain destination guides, or head to search once dates are set for tours on the days you would rather not drive.